Ramon Psaila tal-Għasli
Ramon Psaila tal-Għasli, also known as Ir-Ruman taż-Żejtun
is an improvised verse folk singer. He was born on the 27th September 1965 and hails from Żejtun.
He carries his maternal family nickname Tal-Għasli, from the Misraħ Il-Bjar in the lower part of town in Żejtun. The family were bakers, operating from within the households and supplying a substantial area of the town with their daily bread.
Psaila grew up in an għana environment, through the għana tal-banju sung by his mother Katarin and her own mother Mari tal-Għasli. He recalls exchanging verses with his mother, when still as an eight-year-old.
Issa ż-żmien qed jagħmel tiegħu
Lejn wiċċek tħares fil-mera
Rasek baxxutha fuq il-banju
Ommi ma, kemm inti kerha.
And she replied:
Tajjeb lilek qed nisimgħek
Il-kliem mhux immerih
Ħalli jiena nkun kerha
L-aqwa li ġibt lilek sabiħ.
The wine shop that he used to call at, simply to listen to folk music, was Ġolin Axisa Ta' Kostanza's, at a time when this outlet was frequented by Pawlu Seychell l-Għannej and Żaren Mifsud ta' Vestru.
His favourite folksinger is Frans Baldacchino l-Budaj, for his able use of metaphors, careful usage of words and the qualities which he likes. Psaila is also keen on the high-pitched model, għana fil-għoli, mostly since the lyrical content is complimentary and the guitar music more harmonious than in improvised verse.
He is related to Anġlu Chetcuti s-Sabu, through the Bużakkaq family and with Fredu Abela ż-Żejtuni, through his father. In Għanafest 2013 he folk sang with Raymond Buttigieg Il-Basli, Raymond Laferla r-Ruman and Karmenu Borg Ġannarija. Psaila is active on the local circuit.
External Links
Category:A-Z of the Malta Music Scene]]